Around 10 PM on Saturday, a driver was traveling with four passengers – two adults and two children – in a seven-seater car on Highway 2. When they reached Thai Son commune in Ham Yen district, they encountered floodwaters more than half a meter deep, making the road impassable. Locals advised the driver to take a detour through the second hamlet of Thai Son to avoid the flooded area.
The driver explained that he was using Google Maps for navigation, which directed him to the first hamlet instead of the second. While attempting to cross a flooded section in the first hamlet, the car was swept away by the current for approximately 200 meters before becoming lodged in some bushes. The vehicle quickly filled with water, nearly submerging it completely.
A passing child noticed the trapped car and alerted nearby residents. The driver managed to break a window from inside, and with the help of the locals, all five occupants were safely rescued.
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The car swept away by floodwaters in Tuyen Quang. Photo: Nguoi Tho |
The car swept away by floodwaters in Tuyen Quang. Photo: Nguoi Tho
Heavy rain continued across several mountainous provinces in northern Vietnam on Saturday night due to the southern edge of a low-pressure trough and converging winds aloft. Rainfall from 7 PM Saturday to 8 AM Sunday was recorded at 106 mm in Quang Ngan (Ha Giang), 120 mm in Thanh Long (Tuyen Quang), and 91 mm in Hoa Cuong (Yen Bai).
In Thai Nguyen, over 260 households affected by flooding on Wednesday night had returned to their homes by Saturday afternoon as the water receded. However, Saturday night's rain caused renewed flooding in some areas.
Localized downpours in Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, and Son La provinces led to flooding in low-lying areas, including several central streets. The rain subsided and floodwaters receded later that night.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicts a gradual decrease in rainfall this week, with only localized thunderstorms expected in some midland and mountainous areas of northern Vietnam.
The Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control reported that the floods from Wednesday to Sunday have resulted in three deaths, three injuries, 112 damaged homes, and over 400 flooded homes. In addition, over 2,600 hectares of rice and other crops were submerged, over 75,000 poultry perished, and over 51 hectares of aquaculture were affected.
Gia Chinh
